Quick and Easy Stir-Fry

Easy25 mins

Over the years, I’ve had a number of friends approach me who are just getting into cooking, and are looking for a good recipe to begin with. My recommendation to them (and anyone else looking for a quick meal) is always . . . stir-fry!!!

Without a doubt, stir-frys are one of my favorite go-to meals. They’re quick, fresh, well-balanced, healthy, affordable, easy, and (perhaps my favorite!) they are the perfect way to use up ingredient leftovers!!! Just round up whatever veggies are in the house, and add in some protein or noodles if you’d like (or you can go vegetarian or carb-free!), and within minutes you can have a delicious, flavorful dinner ready to go. It’s really hard to go wrong.

I’ve included all sorts of ideas below for various veggies, proteins (meat/seafood/tofu/etc.), and carbs (pasta/rice/etc.) you can use. And then also typed in a yummy Asian sauce recipe (although you can use just about whatever sauce/seasonings sound good). In the dish pictured above, I used up some leftover broccoli slaw that I had on hand (a fantastic kitchen staple I’d recommend!), and then also threw in some sliced yellow onion and shrimp. Super-quick and delish!!!

So grab your skillet and get to stir-frying! You’ll be glad you did! :)

Directions:

In a small saucepan, add in each of the sauce ingredients and whisk together. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the brown sugar is dissolved. Do not burn.

Meanwhile, stir-fry your protein (meat, tofu, etc.) in a large skillet or wok with olive oil over medium-high heat until cooked. Remove protein from skillet and set aside.

Add veggies to skillet, and stir to coat in the remaining oil. (Add 1/2 Tbsp. oil if need be.) Stir-fry the veggies in the skillet over medium-high heat for 3-4 minutes. Then add in the (drained) noodles or rice, along with the cooked protein. Pour sauce evenly over stir fry and stir to coat. Cook an additional 1-2 minutes. Add sesame oil and sriracha (optional). Then garnish with sesame seeds and freshly ground black pepper, and serve!

If you make this recipe, be sure to snap a photo and hashtag it #gimmesomeoven. I'd love to see what you cook!

Ali’s Tip:

Feel free to also toss in a bag of frozen veggies to make your stir-fry! Grocery stores now sell a zillion delicious varieties. So just pop the frozen veggies in the microwave to thaw out a bit (or thaw them in the fridge), drain, and then add to the skillet. Now that’s quick and easy! :)

This was just what I needed to find when I had a handful of different leftover veggies! I added about 1/8 teaspoon of red pepper flakes and didn’t feel it was very spicy (maybe just a bit warm) for anyone who is curious.

Hey, I’m Ali!

And I’m so happy you’re here!! So many of my favorite memories in life seem to take place around the table, especially when surrounded by people I love. And of course, all the better when nourished by some seriously delicious food. So I created this site to share my favorite recipes and stories with you, in hopes that they might inspire and help us all to spend more time around the table and savor the good stuff in life. Cheers, friends! more about me »